Rest in Peace, Walter

Thanks to BILL KING, who sent the following to me, we now have an obituary for the late WALTER THOMAS:

"Walter H. Thomas, 81, of Alpine, Texas, passed away July 22, 2021, at UMC in El Paso, Texas. His ashes will be interred in the Old Runnels Cemetery in Ballinger, Texas, at a date to be determined. Walter was born the youngest of six siblings on Aug. 16, 1939, in Ballinger. His parents were the late Leon and Jewell Thomas. On July 2, 1964, he married Diana Martin in Midland, Texas. After graduation from Ballinger High School in 1957, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a heavy vehicle operator. Upon his discharge, he was employed by the Texas Department of Transportation. He later began a career in the freight business from which he retired. Walter enjoyed music and friends, bringing a smile to most people who knew him. He loved listening to the Alpine Cowboy’s games while sitting on his front porch. Walter is survived by his wife Diana Martin Thomas; his son Charles Wayne Thomas; two sisters, Dorothy Burke and Francis Shiller (Leroy); daughter-in-law Imelda Thomas; grandchildren Makenzie Bledsoe, Owen Thomas, and Mary Thomas; and great grandchild Graham Dyer, along with many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his son Gregory Allen Thomas; brothers Billy Jack Thomas and Archie Thomas; and brother-in-law Ken Burke."

Condolences to Diana and family.

With love, 

Marilyn and BHS Class of 1957

Got a Pet? or a New Car?

I love to hear updates on everyone's lives. Of course, I wish to know of health issues that we are sending good wishes and prayers to. I think JAMES HAYS and a crew of six recently met to discuss a class reunion in October. I will keep you informed as I learn more.

In the meantime, I can always count on DENNY HILL to answer my requests with something interesting from his home in New York. 

"I can easily understand how you might be thirsty for any news. For me it is like so; these days I am happy to get any news, or especially any juicy gossip, from my friends. This is of course because of the long isolation due to COVID. So here are some small drips and drabs from my rather uneventful recent life:

"I officially retired on June 1, 2021, at age 81. It means I do not have to teach any more! I was planning to take the option offered to me to become, after retirement, a so-called 'Toll Professor' {named after some guy named Toll who was the founding president of my university} for an additional 3-years. It would have meant that I would still be paid some small amount from university funds, but I would have to teach one course per year for the next 3-years, and I could keep my large beautiful office at my university. But COVID convinced me to not take that option. I was still working over the summer on an important committee, but now that is also over. I have not been on campus, or to my office for about one and one half years. Sometime this year I will have to clean it out, which will be an enormous pain, since I have had that office for 48-years, and a big part of my life is/was there.

"The result of all this, plus not being able to travel, is that I have been forced to rediscover my house, and actually enjoy living in it, instead of just using it as a giant closet in which to stash my stuff while I was elsewhere. It has been amazing; like discovering that all my plumbing needed to be replaced because it was old and leaking and neglected. And finding many things I had forgotten I even had that had never been used, or books and things I once thought about reading, but had forgotten even existed, etc......

"Another funny thing is that by retiring I no longer get paid by the state of New York; hence I was forced to start to tap my retirement accounts {the US government makes you take out some so called 'minimum disbursement' each year as soon as you retire, so that they get paid the income tax not yet paid on it before you expire and pass your retirement accumulation on to your dependents}. So I had to do that, and it meant before taxes that I got a $53,000 raise per year over my usual salary. [Isn't it a pi** that you get all this money only when it is much too late, and you are much too old to enjoy it!]

"As far as traveling anywhere, I do seem to be screwed completely. I have not been able to visit my place in Warsaw for a year and a half now, and was hoping to go around Christmas time this year; but now I am afraid that the Delta variant will be in full swing there then. At the moment it has not hit there hard yet, but I am sure it will arrive. Just look at what is now happening in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, etc. Here in my Suffolk County the Delta variant is exponentially increasing, even when 58% of the total population has been fully vaccinated. I think it will take 80% or so to stop it."

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VIRGINIA EGAN answered my request as to how she and Mike are doing lately: "Mike is still going to dialysis in San Angelo and gets very tired of going. We have had the vaccines and will get a booster as soon as they have them. Be sure and be careful. I know two young men in their 30s who were fully vaccinated and did get COVID. One of them had a friend who was exposed at the same time, same source and wasn't vaccinated. Had a severe case."

I can only imagine making that trip to San Angelo two or more times a week and sitting in a chair with medicine pumping into my veins for hours. I hope you take a good book to read with you, Virginia! Here's wishing Mike good health and lots of patience for both of you!

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JIMMY COWLISHAW wrote that he and Betty have recently moved back to Paris. "Not doing any work at this time, but will start a job in Kerrville soon. Stay cool." 

I said that I hoped he meant Paris, Texas! He followed up with his new address, which I will forward to you all to put in your handbook.

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It's fun to use these photos --- some of which are several years old. I'm not sure about you, but I have aged considerably since we last saw one another. If you wish to have me post a more recent one, please send them to me. Of course, it's good to remember how we once were. In the case of those who send me new ones, thank you. 

Stanley

 

I also checked on my good friend TRUMAN CONNER as I had not heard from him in quite a while. I was happy to receive this: "All is well here with lots of well appreciated rain.  Have been playing some golf but not as motivated when the weather is hot. David and I have taken a few short trips just to get away. Stanley goes with us and travels well on road trips. Can't leave him at home, and the vet says pet kennels are more stressful on cats than on dogs. No surprise there."

How about an update from those of you with pets - and maybe some photos? I have really longed for a pet during 

Nimbus

these COVID isolation days. I've settled for occasional visits from daughter Carajean's dog Nimbus and son Matthew's frisky dog Nala. I do not have a fenced yard, and I'm no longer able to walk a dog. My oxygen tank is a wee bit too heavy!

Nala

Nimbus is getting older and loves to have his back rubbed when he visits. He is deaf, but looks you in the eye and watches for hand signals! As soon as he comes through the door and spies me sitting on the sofa, he trots over and backs his little rump up against my legs, looking over his shoulder with those expressive eyes as if to say, "Back rub, please." And of course, I comply. Touching that beautiful, soft fur is pleasing to me as well.

Nala, an Aussiedoodle, is still a pup. She will play "fetch" as long as you will toss a ball.. even catching it in the air. When she cannot get anyone to play with her at home, she drops a ball off the 2-story deck into the yard, runs down the stairs, "fetches" it, brings the ball back upstairs and does it all over again!

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(2020 Suburu Outback dashboard)

Are you looking for some excitement in your life? If you are one of those folks who love to ride dangerous roller coasters or the like, this may interest you. I'm not a big fan of carnival rides, so my recent experience of riding with my son Matthew on a trip to the doctor was a little scary. The photo looks like the dashboard of his auto. I think I had a television with a screen not much larger than that! The GPS on it proves to be useful in finding the address you are seeking, and of course, the voice giving you instructions when and where to change lanes and/or turn helps as well. However, this car has one feature that makes it dangerous in my opinion. Automatic driving! Imagine driving on a busy freeway, cars lined up in front and rear and both sides of you, and your driver takes his hands off the wheel! (I was wishing I had ordered some of those "Depends for Women"!)  

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The news is terrible as usual so I turn to some of my humorous authors for relief. One is Garrison Keillor. This quote was from an article he wrote today. (The World is Not My Home) You football fans reading this will get a chuckle. I think he is right on about the violence in sports. If it is truly satisfying man's (and woman's) taste for violence, I'm all for it.

"I’m an old liberal and I do think that America has been spared a great deal of trouble by the fact that so much hostility that might go into terrorism is expended instead on competitive sports. Christians aren’t influenced by the Sunday sermon so much as by the NFL game afterward, the sacking of the quarterback, repeated in slo-mo, his arm up to pass and three behemoths hit him amidships and the helmet flies off and he crumples to the turf, a broken man: thus our lust for violence is sated." Garrison Keillor

If there is something here that jogs your memory of a story or two you wish to share with us, please send it. We all need to keep our connection. Go Bearcats!

Peace and much love,

Marilyn 

Time to Give Thanks...

 

Good news! I inquired about RODNEY FLANAGAN'S health and his wife Carolyn was kind enough to send me the following:

"Rodney was released from Shannon Encompass Rehab July 30, 24 days after the stroke. Seven of those days were spent in Shannon Hospital.  The remaining time was spent in rehab, which was crucial in his recovery. He spent time in Occupational, Speech and Physical therapy almost every day.  He is working to regain his strength by walking and doing exercises at home, which he does not enjoy.  He looks good and there are no obvious physical effects. There is some short term memory loss, and he gets tired easier.  He laughs and says that being 82 years old is part of the problem.  We are so thankful that he is doing so well and give God all the glory. Thank you all for the calls, cards and prayers.  The class of '57 is a special bunch of people."

Love to you all,

Rodney and Carolyn

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Back in May, NANCY BAKER'S grandson Rei suffered a serious brain injury in a skateboard accident. His sister Kara

set up a GoFundMe page for him and updated his condition from time to time. Last week NANCY told me that he was home with his mother Lynn in Winters, and accompanied them on their garage sale shopping! He is still on the path to a full recovery. His sister Kara wrote the following on his GoFundMe page:

"Rei has made a truly miraculous recovery. He was released from the hospital on July 16th. He was hospitalized for 7 weeks. 5 of those weeks he was kept deeply sedated, on a ventilator, and on a feeding tube in ICU. During that time the Doctors and Nurses could not tell us that he would ever be okay. Then once Rei's brain could handle coming back from sedation he literally started making a full recovery in 2 weeks and got to go home! Every other day my mom told me about a big milestone Rei overcame. I kept driving to the hospital to see for myself. God has been so good to us! Thank you all again for your support! We know many of you wanted to come see him but you didn't because you understood how important it was for him to have a completely calm and unstimulating environment for his brain to heal. We thank you for your understanding and for supporting us from afar! We love you and God bless all of you for your kindness!"

This truly was a miraculous recovery. 

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Back in June I wrote about my and BOB BURTON'S grandson Branch Tanner Archer and the 70-day bicycle ride he was participating in to raise money for cancer research, I Love to Ride My Bike. Last Friday the riders completed their 6,000 mile trip, arriving back in Austin. Guess who was there to greet him? As his parents were waiting in Alaska for him to join them, Papaw, aka BOB BURTON was there with a big grin and a hug! Uncle Matthew took the photos. We are all "busting our buttons" with pride for this young man.

BOB BURTON, Tanner, Aunt Amy, Cousin Kelly

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"Ask and ye shall receive." I recently asked DENNY HILL what he has been up to in recent months. I was tickled to get a quick, funny response from him. During the pandemic, he has been experiencing some of the things that we all can relate to. Stay tuned. I will share these with you in my next post!

In the meantime, if you can keep us all updated on classmates who need our attention and/or prayers, please drop me an email. I am finally able to do a little writing, and of course, I love to hear from you all!

Peace and love -- and may you all experience "good stuff"!

Marilyn

OUR CLASS JUST GOT SMALLER

Greg Thomas' 1st Easter

(This was published in 2008.)  

"I recently ran across some pictures taken in Midland in 1965. I think this one of Diana (BHS '64) and WALTER THOMAS is particularly good. I forwarded it and one of their first son, Gregory, to Diana. I was sad when she wrote back that Greg has just finished chemo and radiation treatments and is to undergo surgery (called the Whipple procedure) for cancerous cysts on his pancreas. I know you will all want to join me in sending our love and prayers for his complete recovery." 

Mr & Mrs Greg Thomas

Sadly, WALTER and Diana's son Gregory lost his battle with cancer a few years later. And sadly, now WALTER is gone as well. I cannot imagine the grief that Diana and their younger son are going through.

WALTER was a funny, talented man. He entertained us along with TER COTHRAN during the 50th Class Reunion. At the time, WALTER was playing bass guitar with a country/western band, but he didn't charge for playing for us at the after-party!

In lieu of a formal obituary, I thought these photos taken at the 50th Class Reunion would bring back memories of the WALTER we all knew and loved. Of course, I will update you with any new information I receive. In the meantime, if you will read the bio that WALTER wrote for the 50th Class Reunion handbook you will smile as you remember him! Please hold Diana and their family in your thoughts and prayers.

Until next time.

Peace and Love,

Marilyn

KEEP THESE IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

It has been a while since I've posted here. I apologize for appearing to neglect our classmates. Especially as there have been some things happening that need our thoughts and prayers. I hope that my sending some of this information to you via email put prayers in action. Some of you let me know. I call you our "prayer warriors".

As you know, RODNEY FLANAGAN recently suffered a stroke in a doctor's office in Winters. This resulted in a brain bleed that placed him in ICU at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo. (Thanks to  BOB BURTON for this information.) As of a week ago, he was out of the ICU, walking with some help. NANCY THOMPSON BAKER told me yesterday that he is now in the rehabilitation section of Shannon Hospital for assistance with the after-effects of a stroke.

DORIS and DON WHITE'S daughter's husband died recently in Colorado where they live. He apparently was found dead in the truck he was driving. As they have children, one of which is disabled, there was a Go Fund Me page set up for them. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find out the daughter's or her husband's name.  Their last name is Marrow. If someone can get this information, I will certainly send the link to everyone.

JANETTE AMARINE BRADSHAW suffered a heart attack two or three weeks ago, but is out of the hospital and under home healthcare. 

Sadly, today is the anniversary of  NANCY THOMPSON BAKER's late husband Jake's death. We spoke yesterday and both told funny stories about Jake and their life together. The laughter felt good. Tomorrow would have been their 64th wedding anniversary. 

NANCY also told me that her grandson Rei is slowly making progress from the brain injury he suffered on a skateboard fall. He is still unsure of where he is or what happened to him. He has a Go Fund Me page for the massive amount of medical bills.  PRAYERS FOR REI

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On a lighter note, BOB HOLLIS sent me the following email and photos. Thanks, BOB!  ( And happy belated birthday!)

       

"Robert (Bob) & Margaret Hollis just returned from their 55th anniversary trip to Hawaii. Their kids and grandkids and great-granddaughter from Texas, Arizona, and California were there to enjoy the vacation also.

"Now that Covid 19 has subsided and our family members are all healthy, we traveled. I told the kids that we were spending their inheritance and trading money for memories, so they had better take good pictures."  

BOB AND MARGARET HOLLIS

"I hope youall and yours are doing well." 

Spoken like a true Texan, BOB. However, we usually shorten it to y'all!

I have been getting notices from Google that this blog is difficult to read on some devices as the print is too small. I'm experimenting with different sizes, etc. Let me know your feeling on this. Apparently, Google wants everything to be read on an iPhone - perhaps so they can get their ads in.

Hopefully, soon we will find out which medicine I've been on has caused the serious outbreaks I've been having.  Imagine having hives on your face.. As I'm only on three, two are for breathing, it should not take too much longer!

I hope everyone out there has their COVID vaccinations and are in good health. 

Praying for peace, love, and healing for those in need,

Marilyn

A PROUD LEGACY FOR TWO

Bailey King

After the last post from JAMES HAYS, I received an email from BILL KING about his granddaughter Bailey King of San Angelo. Bailey is the daughter of Keith Andrew King, BILL's youngest son. She is currently a political science and communication double-major at Angelo State University. She has been selected for the ASU Political Science and Philosophy Department’s 2021 Government and Public Service Internship Program in Washington, D.C. and will spend the upcoming fall semester working as an intern for a member of the U.S. Congress. She will be placed in either a congressional or senate office. You can read about this remarkable young woman's accomplishments here: CONCHO VALLEY. BILL is a proud grandfather, and rightly so.

JAMES HAYS found the photo he mentioned in the last blog post. This was taken when he went to "promote my nephew Lance Jorgenson to Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer-4 at the same place where my picture was taken in February 1942, also in uniform that my mother made for me. It takes a senior officer to promote an officer, active or retired. The biggest surprise was that I could still get into my dress uniform." I think that is JAMES' National Guard Uniform. I know James must have been proud to participate in this ceremony.

Today I received a telephone call from NANCY THOMPSON BAKER telling me that one of her grandsons, Rei De La Cruz had an accident on a skateboard. He suffered a serious brain injury and is currently in a medically induced coma in the hospital ICU. His sister, Kara Harris, has started a Go Fund Me page for him. He is in need of our prayers and donations to assist him with his recovery. Please check this out. PRAYERS FOR REI You may also put this on your Facebook page for classmates.

I hope that this is not what is called "too much information" flowing into your email inbox. I normally don't write posts this close together. But I am happy to hear from any of you. Of course, I want to know all your "good stuff" happening, but also want to advise all of the sad things and urgent requests. The positive energy created when many are united in sending good wishes and/or prayers to one of our own can be uplifting and even life-saving at times. So please continue to let me hear from you.

Love, peace, and good health,

Marilyn

A Letter from the Good Doctor!

JAMES HAYS sent me the following email and the cute photo of him and Grider in their "uniforms" his mother made for them during WWII. JAMES always wanted to be a "soldier", and it must have started with the uniform he wore in 1942! He has told us previously about his own time in the National Guard.

"I just finished reading your latest missive. Thanks for your help keeping us in touch. Since this Communist Chinese plague has calmed down considerably, I think we should be thinking about our cancelled reunion for early this fall. Lots of things need to be done in planning, etc. Go or no go, setting a date with or without consideration of a homecoming ballgame. I bumped into the lawyer and the Ballinger gun show is set for November 13/14, so the barrister is safe from meeting with Peggy! 'Class joke.' (Maybe some of you understand this. I don't.) My Saturdays for planning a trip are about half open, but is anybody still gainfully employed? Weekdays are generally open. I am still active with the Runnels County Historical Commission, The pay doesn’t complicate my tax return at all. 

"We made a quick trip to Arlington last week for Kay’s/our great-grandson’s second birthday. Two weeks ago we also went to the old home place so I could promote my nephew Lance Jorgenson to Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer-4 at the same place where my picture was taken in February 1942, also in uniform that my mother made for me. It takes a senior officer to promote an officer, active or retired. The biggest surprise was that I could still get into my dress uniform.

"When Dad tried to enlist in the army Dec 13, 1941, they refused to let him in with four small kids, sheep, cattle, and farming cotton, wheat, and other crops. He was mad as hell and joined the newly created Texas State Defense Force, soon to become the State Guard. My mother made these uniforms for Grider and me and we had a Kodak moment. At two years and eight months old, I remember getting this picture taken very well.

"My dad, Marion Hays, was in an Army pre-OCS school in 1918; war ended. 1918 graduate of Ballinger High School. Had Maryatt Smith in math. I spent 51/2-years in the Texas State Guard after 20-years in the National Guard.

"I am no longer the Brown County Medical Authority since December, but I hung in there until Vaccine became available and still show up occasionally on a volunteer basis. On that note, let me recommend one of the vaccines to everybody. Our aged arteries are still open season to that virus and the shots are very, very rarely hazardous. I have lost a couple of friends to it so far."...JAMES HAYS

Who knew Maryatt Smith was teaching school at BHS in 1918?
I had to do a little research on Miss Smith and came up with this old newspaper article. I had her for Algebra II, Plane Geometry, and Latin I and II. She made me angry by giving me a "0" in my daily work for talking. I walked out of her class and straight to Joe Forester. I insisted he put me in another math class. Good ole Joe talked me into staying. And I didn't regret it!

"The Ballinger Ledger (Ballinger, Texas)

May 19, 1966"

"Miss Maryatt Smith Will Close

Teaching Career on May 24, 1966"

If any of you want to comment or send your own stories, just use the comment link at the bottom of this post or email me. If you wish to work with or have suggestions for JAMES, you may email him directly. His email is in the back of your class directory...or I can send it to you.

May all your days be full of the "good stuff".

Peace and Love,

Marilyn

"I LOVE TO RIDE MY BIKE"

                

I never owned a bicycle as a child and I don't even recall riding one as an adult. Here in Austin you see bike riders everywhere all of the time. It wasn't surprising to me when my daughter's son Tanner started intense training for an upcoming ride, sometimes riding his bicycle 40 miles a day.

Tanner has a knack for participating in worthy causes. Last year he and a good friend held a "standathon" wherein they both stood for 24-hours while reading from pertinent books on climate change and being viewed online to raise money for "Extinction Rebellion ATX", an international nonviolent movement seeking real solutions to climate change. I wrote about their success at this endeavor on my personal blog. Standing for Change

This past weekend, Tanner and 21 other like-minded bike riders left on a 4,000 mile ride in the lower 48 states to raise money for cancer research. They are members of an organization called "Texas 4000". Started in 2004, "Texas 4000’s mission is to cultivate student leaders and engage communities in the fight against cancer." Information about the riders, their route, and why each has chosen to raise money for cancer is located on their website Texas 4000. There is also a good map of the stops they will make along the way. He is on the Sierra route.

Branch Tanner Archer is the grandson of mine and BOB BURTON. If you happened to see 22 bicycle riders touring through Ballinger last Monday, that was his group. Tanner had visited me when I lived in Ballinger for a few years before our 50th Class Reunion. He sent the following photo to let me know they went through there!

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JUNE HASH CURRY sent me the following photo of her newest great-grandchild. I am jealous that she and NANCY THOMPSON BAKER both are gifted with great-grandchildren! Although I am blessed with seven grandchildren, five of them are still attending college. This has to be the cutest photo of a toddler I've seen!

This is Miss Emery Jayne Birdwoman Curry. She was born into the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe in Oklahoma. JUNE's grandson Braden and his wife Kennedy Curry officially adopted her on June 8th. Birdwoman is the name she was born with and they want her to remember it as well as her culture. JUNE told me: "My grandson and his young wife have been taking foster children since last year, and she was the fifth one to come into their home when she was five months of age. The other four foster children have since gone to other homes or returned to their parents, but they simply couldn’t think of letting her go and began adoption proceedings. The Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe finally accepted their petitions, signed off on the adoption, and yesterday she legally became ours to keep. And I think our whole family would have been to bury if we had lost this precious baby since she had already become a much loved member of our clan." I can certainly see why. And I commend this sweet couple for their work with foster children!

The happy new family!

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That's it for this time. Are there any "newbies" or happenings in your life or those you love? Send me the good stuff. I love to hear from you. 

Peace and Love,

Marilyn

CATCHING UP A LITTLE

I hope this photo brings a smile to your face as it did to mine. TRUMAN CONNER is always a faithful contributor, even if I have been very slow getting the news out lately. By the way, when I told him how much I liked the photo, he's the one who gave me the priceless title: "An Old Man and His Cat"! The cat's name is Stanley. (In his lap.)

I hope this inspires more of you to send me some pictures and stories of your own. This past year and a half has not been an easy one for any of us. However, it has certainly wrought plentiful changes in our lifestyles. To date, the only times I have been away from my little cottage have been the two times my daughter Carajean drove me to be vaccinated at a COVID-19 drive-thru site. My next outing will probably be to my doctor for a way overdue checkup. Then to the dentist to do something about the tooth I broke as well as the crown I popped off while flossing. I don't look forward to these visits!

This past week I had a visit from an employee of the DPS. My driver's license expired on my last birthday in 2020. As I no longer drive, I was notified that an official I.D. would be required in lieu of a driver's license. I informed them that during the pandemic, due to my health, I would not be able to visit their offices for the necessary paperwork and photo. I was surprised a few weeks ago to hear from this nice gentleman that if I could send a photo of a certified copy of my birth certificate, he might be able to make what they called a "homebound visit". My cameras are kaput, and I do not have an iPhone. However, the small android tablet I have, thanks to my son Matthew, takes photos. I'm not very proficient, but I made more than one attempt and I finally got a good enough picture they could verify I was born in the U.S.A. 

The appointment was set and "Johnny" came promptly at 11 am this past Thursday. He proceeded to charm me and my daughter Carajean while getting all the necessary paperwork done and my photo taken in record time. I foisted chocolate chip cookies on him as he left the premises twenty minutes after his arrival. I complimented him on his professional as he was leaving and he leaned in and said, "Don't tell anyone. You'll ruin my reputation." 

This past Mother's Day was a little tough. It was the first one in many, many years I did not have a card or gift or visit from my oldest child, Craig. I teared up when I opened the gift bag from Carajean. Pictured above is a small quilted memento she had professionally made from some of Craig's ties he had left here with me. Being in new car sales for many years, he wore dress shirts and ties. As his favorites were made by Jerry Garcia, I bought many of them through the years as gifts for him. This is so lovely on my sofa, but I think it will make a beautiful wall hanging someday. (No bare walls in my house!) I plan to leave it to one of Craig's children.

A cute story about the quilted memento...When Carajean was working with the ties and how to display them, she had them laying out on the floor. All of a sudden, Floki jumped right in the middle of the ties! Floki, of course, was Craig's cat. We think that he could smell Craig on the ties. 

Floki was adopted by Carajean's daughter Audrey and her husband, but they are temporarily housed at Carajean's. (Most of you know that Carajean's dad is BOB BURTON.)

Carajean and her family attended a wedding in Amarillo recently. The young bride was her daughter Ashlyn's best friend from early childhood. Ashlyn gave the Maid of Honor's speech. BOB and Ann went as well since they knew the young woman, and it was a chance to see most of the family. This photo was taken the night of the rehearsal dinner. Sandra is a physician friend of Carajean's since they were in college together.

This is mostly news from my neck of the woods. Let me hear from you and what's going on in your lives! Photos are always welcome.

Until next time..

Peace and love,

Marilyn

PANDEMIC - YEAR II

The second year of the COVID-19 pandemic started off with a bang for those of us in Texas. The news coverage kept us informed -- that is, if we had electricity. Many lost both power and water during the "arctic blast" that lasted nearly a week and broke many records here, with temperatures dropping into the single digits. I spent a lot of time on my computer checking on family and friends. The ones I could reach. Fortunately, most of my family were lucky enough not to lose electricity or water. We did have to boil water for three or four days. Some suffered rolling blackouts, but said they didn't last very long. 

So many were without power that freezing pipes have created nightmares for hundreds, if not thousands, of residents here in Austin. Videos of broken water pipes flooding homes and even causing ceilings to collapse while doing so make me count my blessings again and again. 

(WFAA)

The lack of enough plumbers to make the repairs to the myriad of burst pipes has created long lines of people at sites that are providing drinking water. Being without potable water for nearly two weeks or longer presents great hardships for those affected. Thankfully, many volunteers and organizations have stepped up to assist with repairs and providing necessary food and water. FEMA is now helping victims and businesses as well.

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I don't always hear much from you guys, but there are a few I can count on for a little (or a lot) of news. The following are some of the communications I extracted during the past few weeks.

Somewhere I let it be known that it has been over a year since I visited my hair stylist. My hair has since grown more than the thirteen inches I had cut off at that time. Denny had a clever solution for his own hair.

DENNY HILL: (Feb. 4) "It has been a year since I have had a

haircut, but it grows rather slowly. I trimmed it a bit myself around the ears, looking in the mirror with scissors." (Of course, you could always wear a pony tail and that great beret!) (Feb. 16) "Looks like not very much snow around my house. The snow around my house has melted down somewhat, but is still from 1 to 1-1/2 feet deep. At the end of my driveway there is a snow hill formed by the snowplow that is as high as my waist. That is why I am snowbound for 2 or 3 weeks. But otherwise the weather is nice, the air is very clean, all roads are clear, which means that is you have managed to dig your car out, or get it out of the garage, then there is no problem to drive around. But I prefer to just leave my cars in my garage and relax and be snowbound."

TRUMAN CONNER: (Feb. 19) "It was tough going until yesterday morning when we finally got water and electricity. We had one 24-hour stretch with no water or electricity. HEB has been a mob scene though." 

TRUMAN gets his second COVID vaccination March 13th.

JUNE HASH CURRY: (Feb. 4) "I did manage to get my first COVID shot, and the second one scheduled. (Feb. 16) It was -17 (degrees) last night but we have not lost power, thank God. Chris finally got to work today without incident, so all is good."

MARTHA NORTHINGTON: (Feb. 19) "Ok now. No power or water until yesterday. Whole family went to hotel. Water flowing but still has to be boiled. Heat working. Anne (her daughter) just stood in line at grocery and got a few things for me. Had to toss everything in refrigerator."

NANCY THOMPSON BAKER is usually up-to-date on Ballinger news. On February 12 I sent her an article about the San Angelo water being toxic, and asked her how she was holding up. This was her reply, "Wow! wow! I am okay for now but not looking forward to ice, sleet and snow being alone. My dog is too little to keep me warm...nearly all my heat is connected to electricity, so concerned...very concerned, about the duration of cold weather." She told me about VIRGINIA EGAN and Mike losing power. She didn't lose power or water, but later told me, "I had someone call to check on me as there were no tire tracks (in the snow) leaving my driveway. I have everything I need. I learned to survive when Jake was traveling!"  At one time she stuck a yardstick into the snow off her back steps and said there was at least 5 inches.

VIRGINIA HARRAL EGAN: (Feb. 19)

"Finally got a dialysis treatment for Mike yesterday. The dialysis center had lots of problems such as broken generator and the contaminated water situation in San Angelo, which has been ongoing for 2-weeks. The machines use a lot of water. He went back for another treatment today because he had gone 6-days without one. We had the rolling blackouts, but have managed to survive and our water supply has been good. If it hadn't been for the worry about Mike's health I could have dealt with it better. Family has been checking on us constantly. My daughter, Carolyn came and stayed with us for 3-days. I am looking forward to normal, if there is a normal anymore."

I later heard from NANCY that some dialysis patients had to be airlifted via helicopter to treatment centers. VIRGINIA didn't mention this and I forgot to ask.

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Mallie Sue Vessel, sister of BARBARA CAMPBELL WITTE. (March 31, 1940 - February 15, 2021) I am sorry I missed this when BARBARA'S brother Grady's obituary was mentioned on the last blog post. I think their memorial was held on the same day. You may read her obituary and leave your condolences at Lange Funeral Home.

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I'm pretty sure many of you either had recent experiences as scary as ours or have had a good laugh at the predicament we here in Texas found ourselves in during the recent wicked weather we suffered. This on top of the COVID pandemic seemed almost too much to bear. At least in this part of Texas. We definitely are not used to it. Can you imagine that Del Rio recorded a record-breaking 11.2 inches of snowfall?

My front porch.

My back deck.

The bad weather? Well, Considering what we have been through in recent years, I think we all must admit that climate change is upon us. Hopefully, the Texas leaders will do whatever is necessary to prepare us for any future events such as the one we just went through. It was sad to think that so many of the Board members of ERCOT that nearly completely failed our electricity needs don't even live in Texas. They all received salaries of six figures. (Needless to say, they have since resigned.) Even though they were advised that our grid needed to be upgraded, they ignored doing anything, which left us at a point we were less than five minutes away from the whole state losing power and shutting down completely. 

I do hope most of you have been escaping the coronavirus and perhaps have one or more of the vaccinations under your belt by now. I would love to hear from you. Let me know how you are coping with the isolation the pandemic has forced upon us. Share some of the "good stuff" you have experienced as well.

Until next time..

Peace and love,

Marilyn